Demonstration device modelling a living organism

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a demonstration device ( 401 ) which is a model of a living organism enlarged at least 50 times. Demonstration devices of this type, for example, a model of a person lying down, help explain and show how the biological processes which take place in the living organism are related. The inventive demonstration device ( 401 ) has an outer skin. Inside are functional elements representing the organism&#39;s organs, vascular system, joints, etc. According to the invention, it is possible to both walk and travel in the demonstration device and its functional elements.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national application of internationalapplication serial No. PCT/EP98/05789 filed Sep. 10, 1998, which claimspriority to German serial No. 197 40 207.0 filed Sep. 12, 1997.

The invention concerns a demonstration device in the form of a livingorganism enlarged at least 50 times, wherein an outer skin surrounding acavity simulates the form of a living organism. In the cavity formed bythe outer skin of the demonstration device are arranged functionalelements which correspond to the organs of the respective livingorganism.

Owing to the complexity of the organs and joints present in livingorganisms, particularly in human beings, there is a great need to makethe functions of these organs and joints readily transparent andunderstandable.

WO 97/27573 discloses an enlarged model of a human being in which thehuman internal organs are arranged largely in their respectiveanatomically correct positions. This human model is mounted face up onits back and shows an androgynous human being. The organs arranged inthe human model are designed for walking. As a result, according to WO97/27573 an extraordinary sense of adventure as well as the sense of ajourney of discovery are conveyed. Owing to the model being designedonly for walking, however, it is not possible to convey the layout andfunction of the human organism in a didactically significant mannerwithin a reasonable time.

By contrast U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,550 shows a model of two sleepingpersons in which, but not in anatomically correct layout, the organs ofan individual person are arranged in such a way that they can betravelled by rail. With this model only the head regions are fullsformed, while the outer form of the building containing the organs inthe remaining parts has the form of a blanket. With this model,consequently, there is no model of the human being which can berecognised as such from the outside. Here, again, the imparting ofknowledge about the layout as well as the function of the individualhuman organs is conveyed only imperfectly, because when travellingthrough the organs there is no room left for an individualknowledge-imparting time appropriate to the respective observer.

Starting from this, it is the object of the present invention to providea demonstration device in the form of a living organism with which it ispossible to make the functionality of the -essential organs, vascularsystems, reproductive organs, joints and the like which are present inthe living organism, accessible and understandable to an observer in adidactically optimum manner and within a reasonable time.

This object is achieved by the introductory part of claim 1 inconjunction with its characterising features.

The demonstration device according to the invention is made accessiblewith its functional elements by means of body function-specific pathsystems. Path systems which can be travelled along by vehicle and alsoon foot are provided. Thus it is possible to allow the individualobserver a way of approaching the individual organs, vascular systemsand/or joints or the like which matches his interests and his perceptivefaculties. For instance, by travelling by vehicle through the individualorgans he can gain a quick overview of the relationships between theindividual organs etc. in a fast, spectacular and impressive manner, andthen access the organs etc. in which he is particularly interested onfoot, observing detailed information, for example in “child zones” or“child-friendly functional elements” adapted to the abilities ofchildren as well. An iterative approach of this kind allows optimumimparting of knowledge. In the same way, differentiation of theindividual ways of imparting knowledge is possible by rail or on footdepending on the age of the visitors to the demonstration device. Thusfor example children, who cannot yet be given the knowledge about therelationships between the organs of the human body through charts orexperiments can nevertheless be given an idea by means of a rail journeywhich is of interest to this age group.

As the demonstration device according to the invention simulates theform of a living organism, it must have a size which makes it possibleto go by vehicle or on foot over the demonstration device from theinside. The dimensioning of the demonstration device must be selectedaccordingly. As a rule, therefore, enlargement by at least 50 times isrequired.

Advantageous developments of the demonstration device according to theinvention are given in the dependent claims.

The outer skin can be designed as a monolithic shell, preferably as aself-supporting hall, and/or be carried by support elements. Parts ofthe outer skin can be made transparent to give a free view of theinterior of the living organism and for example an anatomicallycorrectly placed functional element. As travel over the demonstrationdevice is to be possible both by vehicle and on foot, it is advantageousnot exclusively to arrange the functional elements in their anatomicallycorrect positions in the demonstration device, but to arrange themaccording to the individual access options in the interests of optimumuse of the interior of the outer casing. It is also possible to set upseparate organ systems for the two types of access, vehicle and walking,as the two types of access are intended to convey different aspects. Thevehicle access type is intended more for a spectacular travel effect,whereas with the functional elements accessible on foot, in whichlingering of the observer according to his needs is possible, detailedknowledge in written form can be conveyed, for example by charts.

Accordingly the travel way can run in a tube, preferably a closed tubeor closed tube system, by means of a driverless railway cabin systemwith individual centrally controlled carriages. Thus the travellers arenot exposed to any distraction by elements not belonging to the travelway or by visitors travelling in front or behind. The overall result isalso an optimum cheap solution, as the individual carriages can travelclose together one behind the other.

In the preferred embodiment of the demonstration device, in the eventthat a human being is simulated, with an enlargement of 80 to 120 timesthere is an optimum size of the demonstration device. Favourably thedemonstration device is arranged horizontally so that optimum staticconditions as well as the possibility of walking and travel by vehicleare produced. The human being can in this case lie on its belly, liftingits head over the terrain. It is particularly favourable for staticsupport of the very large, heavy head if the arms are arranged in such away that the head is supported on them.

The outer skin can here be designed as a self-supporting hall or carriedby support elements. In this case it can be either a self-supportingframe structure or an outer skin which is secured by support pillars. Inany case it is necessary for enough space to be left in thedemonstration device to arrange and visit the corresponding functionalelements and path systems.

The material of the demonstration device can either be of a metallicnature, or be selected from concrete or the like or from plastics. Therespective wall thickness is determined by the material conditions.

The functional elements which simulate the organs etc. of the respectiveliving organism are essentially the most important organs etc. of theliving organisms. For the preferred embodiment of the human being,heart, liver, kidneys, stomach, digestive tract, sense organs, brain,nervous and vascular systems, lung and the large and small joints suchas shoulder joints, knee joints, finger joints and toe joints are to beprovided as functional equipment.

These individual functional elements can be made interactive so thatthey can be operated by the observer and the function becomes clear. Themanner of operation of the functional elements can be illustrated byoptical and/or acoustic measures.

Particularly interesting didactic access is produced when in thefunctional elements the corresponding technical analogon which is oftenknown to the observer even from his everyday life is placed by the sideof the physiological functions. This imparting of content can beimproved by assigning to the individual organ systems, such as forexample the system consisting of digestive tract and internal organs orheart, circulation and lung, their own path systems, for example theirown railway tracks.

Below, some advantageous embodiments of the demonstration deviceaccording to the invention are described. The drawings show:

FIG. 1 a demonstration device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a path system;

FIG. 3 another path system;

FIG. 4 another demonstration device according to the invention;

FIG. 5 the mounting of the demonstration device according to theinvention from FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 the access paths of a demonstration device according to theinvention;

FIG. 7 the internal layout of a demonstration device according to theinvention;

FIG. 8 the path system in the chest and head regions of a demonstrationdevice according to the invention;

FIG. 9 a path system of a demonstration device according to theinvention;

FIG. 10 a cross-section through the chest region of a demonstrationdevice according to the invention;

FIG. 11 a vertical longitudinal cross-section through a demonstrationdevice according to the invention;

FIG. 12 a horizontal cross-section through a demonstration deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 13 another horizontal cross-section through a demonstration deviceaccording to the invention; and

FIG. 14 another horizontal longitudinal cross-section through ademonstration device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a demonstration device 401 according to the invention. Thishas an outer skin 10 in the form of a human being. This human being isshown lying down, with a head 402 supported on arms 403. For staticsupport of the building in the form of a human being, below the chestregion is arranged a substructure 404 as a surface to rest on.

FIG. 1a shows the path of a railway 12 through the functional elements11 arranged in an anatomically correct manner in the human being anddesigned as internal organs. Entry to the railway 12 is at point 1 asentry into the heart via the vena cava sup. Exit from the heart is viathe arteria pulmonalis sinistra. From there the railway 12 continuesinto a functional organ which is designed as a lung. In an alveolus ofthe lung there is a change-over to the “air side”, and the railway 12continues through the trachea, which symbolises breathing out, into thenose and throat cavity to point 2. At point 2 the observer can get toknow the buccal cavity. From here it is possible for the observer onfoot to look at a functional element designed as an eye 3 or onedesigned as an ear, or to take a trip through the “brain”.

The rail journey is then continued from point 2 as a “piece of food”through the oesophagus into the stomach and the intestine. From theintestine the railway 12 changes over to a functional organ designed asthe liver and travels on into the kidney at point 4. At point 4 againthere is a change-over of the railway 12 into the Fallopian tube andfrom there on into the uterus, from where the railway 12 runs backthrough a vein to the point of entry 1.

FIG. 2 shows the passage of a railway 104 through a functional element101 designed as the intestine. Here, as below, corresponding elementsare given corresponding reference numbers. Also shown are a track system102 and supply blood vessels 103. The railway consists of individualremote-controlled carriages for two persons each. By travelling throughthe individual organs, here shown with the aid of a functional element101 in the form of the intestine, the observer is given a feeling forthe relationships and transport of substances, for example food withinthe human system.

FIG. 3 shows a functional element 201 designed as an eye with an iris202 and a pupil 203. In the eye is arranged a path system 205 with aplatform 204 for walking, so that from the eye 201 the observer has anoutlook over the landscape surrounding the demonstration device.

FIG. 4 shows another demonstration device according to the invention inthe form of a human being 401. This demonstration device lies on itsbelly with the upper torso upright. A head 402 rests on crossed backs ofthe hands 420, and the lower arms 403 are almost vertical. The humanbeing 401 has legs 421 which are slightly splayed and form an angle ofabout 20°. Between the legs 421 at a level of approx. 7 m oralternatively 12 m from the upper edge of the ground is provided aterrace. Hence in the region of the legs there are large areas which canbe used for exhibition purposes and cannot be seen from the outside. Inorder that from a bird's eye view there is still the impression that thebody has been simulated true to life, the terrace surface is designed asa green roof for walking. Below the upper torso of the human being 401is provided a front structure 404 in which is located the entranceregion to the demonstration device. This affords the advantages that agreat deal of space is gained in the chest region and secondly there isstatic support of the demonstration device in the chest region.

The outer casing of the demonstration device is kept partly transparent,for example in a region 405 of the lower arms. There, inside the outerskin muscle fibres are simulated by means of steel tubes, so that theobserver is given the impression of looking directly on to thesubcutaneous muscle regions.

FIG. 5 shows static support of the chest and head regions of thedemonstration device 401. In FIG. 5 the paths which divert the load areshown by bold stripes 422. The head 4.01 is supported essentially by thelower arms 403, wherein the latter due to their trapezoidal layoutcompletely take up and divert the corresponding loads. The chest regionis fully supported by the substructure located there and by the upperarms of the demonstration device.

For the demonstration device according to the invention, divisionbetween the casing of the building, i.e. the outer skin, and the actualinterior lining is recommended for reasons of fire prevention. If theinterior lining is designed as an independent building with separateescape routes, the upper torso can be declared a free area which ishoused in or roofed over. This division between spaces for people tostay continuously and other areas allows a lower room temperature in theupper torso and lower fire loads. Another advantage of division intointernal and external structures lies in the resulting possibilities ofvariation in the building designs.

In FIG. 4 the two lower arms 403 which support the head 402 stand onelbow foundations and are joined together in the transverse direction bythe hands 420 crossed under the chin, so that they form a bridge-likeframe structure on which the head rests. As shown in FIG. 6, on thetransverse axis of the shoulders are located two staircase towers 405made of reinforced concrete with glass lift cabins oriented towards theinterior of the body on the longitudinal side. The two towers 405 arejoined together by a steel latticework structure at shoulder level andserve for additional stiffening. The head 402 is made as light aspossible as a Mero latticework system or an equivalent solution andlined with aluminium sheets. A thermoskin serves for thermal insulationand allows the surface of the head to be modelled true to life.

The surfaces of neck and hands, feet, thighs and in the region of hipand buttocks are modelled as naturalistically as possible from sprayedconcrete and then provided with a thermoskin together with surfacetreatment. The elbows too are made of sprayed concrete. Here it is notso much a question of preserving the true-to-life impression, as ratherthe static function as a foundation for the lower and upper arms. Forthe skin of the knees and calves, as can be seen in FIG. 4, alight-transmitting textile covering is used (PTFE membrane with 15%light transmission, fire grade A2, k-value=5) which can also be used onthe upper torso.

The form of the upper torso is predetermined by the costal arches, andthese are alternatively designed as a steel latticework structure bymeans of oval tubes, by glulam joists or by means of in each case twoparallel curved T-girders. Between the girders -are mounted glass stripsincluding opening flaps for smoke/heat extraction, which on the one handensure direct incidence of natural light, but on the other handemphasise the function of the ribs as a decorative element.

Both on the scalp and on the heels can be mounted glass domes. Domes ofthis kind can also be used in the roof region of the thighs and insidethe terrace structure, and allow natural ventilation and natural lightincidence.

The space inside the thighs is designed as a steel and glass structure.

As an alternative to the transparent solution described above, the wholebody can also be made as a monolithic shell from sprayed concrete.Taking into consideration the surface tension of the concrete andkeeping the supporting structure for the head described in FIG. 5, inthis way a stable, self-supporting hall can be produced. At the sametime, however, relatively high weights are to be taken into account. Thegreatest internal forces (bending moments around 400 kNm) are in thiscase to be found in the region of the back and can be absorbed byconventional reinforcement or by prestressing the back parts.

In this case manufacture of the torso with conventional frameworks ispossible. Individual parts of the body such as head and hands can bemade very thin by sprayed-concrete techniques next to the building siteand put in position with a crane. In a reinforced concrete design thestructure is then to a large extent maintenance-free and the surface canbe modelled as desired. For example it can be left in exposed concreteor given a shiny silvery covering with special steel or provided withartistic paintwork. This outer skin in case of the compact solution canbe adapted to modern tastes at any time by means of a self-supportingsprayed concrete hall.

Heat insulation can easily be accomplished with the choice of cellularconcrete or by applying an insulating coat. A reinforced concrete shellis a particularly suitable solution for achieving a fire preventionconcept as well.

The reinforced concrete shell too can be perforated by window openingsand/or transparent components for natural ventilation and lighting or torepresent transparent skin regions.

FIG. 6 shows the path means inside the demonstration device. In theregion of the shoulders, as already described, is provided a lift system405 for transporting the visitors to the chest and head regions.Furthermore a second lift system 406 is provided in the hip region.Between the entrance, which is arranged in the head region of thesubstructure 404, and the second lift system 406 extends in thesubstructure a building 407 for walking, in which can be accommodatedfor example supply elements and functional elements designed as ademonstration device. At the upper end of the two lift systems theconnection is made by means of a vertebral column 408 for walking, whichacts as a functional element.

The interior of the demonstration device is divided into four workingzones:

1. The substructure 404 on which the upper torso rests also includes thearea below the terrace, which is placed between the legs. In thissubstructure, which in practice can be used as a ground floor, areaccommodated supply pipe, wiring, engineering rooms as well as workshopsand the like and also the escape routes. The main entrance for thevisitors to the demonstration device is also located in this building inthe substructure at a level of approx. 2.5 to 3 m.

2. The upper torso is designed as a hollow body in order to be able todemonstrate to the visitor the width and height of the demonstrationdevice. The main entrance leads into this upper torso.

3. In the head are installed floors, partial floors and galleries whichcontain exhibition areas and functional elements.

4. The fourth zone includes the region from the waist to the feet andcontains further exhibition areas and functional elements.

As already described, the connection between the head and the fourthzone is made via the main surface of the upper torso at the entrancelevel and a lift tower below the shoulders, on the one hand, and via thevertebral column for walking, on the other hand.

The functional elements provided for the visitors, which are designed asillustration and interaction regions, are combined into the followinglogical units:

Nutrition and digestion

Heart and circulation (with blood and lymphatic system as well as lungcirculation)

Lung, respiration and voice production

Sex organs and reproduction (with genetics, cytology and heredity)

Hormone system

Tissues in the body (skin, bones and joints, muscles) Brain, nerves andreflexes

An exception is the senses and sense organs. Of course these too couldbe combined into a logical group, but for good spatial use of thedemonstration device it is advantageous to incorporate three of thesefive senses into higher complexes, for example

taste in the region of nutrition and digestion,

smell in the region of lung and respiration and

touch in the region of skin.

The sense organs of eye and ear are presented in independent exhibitionregions.

The spatial programme is complemented by central equipment such astoilet areas and catering as well as by special rooms such as restzones, child-friendly display zones, a “glass operating theatre”,seminar rooms and the like.

The two logical units of nutrition and digestion as well asheart/lung/circulation are not just designed as pure exhibition areas.Medical backgrounds are here too presented within the framework of ineach case an adventure trip through the vessels and organs.

In the fourth zone, from the feet to the waist, are located the mainexhibition areas. Here are also accommodated the track sections fortravel through the functional elements designed as organs. Furthermorein this zone are located a restaurant, toilet facilities, seminar rooms,simulators, a cinema, central workshops and the administration.

This fourth zone is divided into four storeys accessible to the public(FIG. 7, reference number 409), which are joined to each other in theregion of the waist by the two lift towers described above. By means ofoverhangs of the ceilings of the respective levels in the transversedirection it is possible to get a sense of the taper of the horizontalbody from the shape of the outer skip. The inner building and the outerskin are joined to each other by the overhangs. Due to this horizontalconnection, in the regions below the largest cross-section the dome-likestructure of the outer skin can be prevented from buckling.

The region of the upper torso is used for the spatial experience.Furthermore information counters and the central lift and staircaseunits described above are accommodated here, offering access to thehead. In the region of the upper torso in the substructure 404 islocated the main entrance. As shown in FIG. 7, the visitor in theentrance region can look into the free chest space with a viewing angleof 30° and see its huge dimensions.

The head 402 also contains several floor levels (see FIG. 11). In it arealso accommodated the demonstration regions, for example for brain,nerves and reflexes, eye and ear.

FIG. 8 shows the outline of the first level of the head region. Thislevel offers space for toilet facilities and a cafe. The head region isaccessed via the lift shafts 405 arranged in the chest region. Betweenthe head region and these lift shafts 405 are located crossings 801 and,inside the head region to access the individual levels in the head 402,staircases 803. Also shown is the vertebral column 802 for walking, forconnecting the head region to the fourth zone.

The crossings 801 from the head to the shoulder, which in thelongitudinal direction make the reinforced concrete towers accessible asescape routes, are structurally designed as steel latticeworks andprovided with a fire prevention covering.

The different levels in the different zones of the demonstration deviceserve to present different subject complexes, which are mainly exploredon foot.

In this practical example, placing all the organs in their positions inthe body has deliberately been dispensed with. Nevertheless the visitorcan be transported by rail through two important organ systems of thehuman body. For this purpose two track loops are installed in the fourthzone between waist and feet. The first one is located on theentrance-level floor and contains the digestive tract with oesophagus,stomach, intestine, liver and kidney over a length of approx. 400 m. Thesecond track section is dedicated to the subject ofheart/circulation/lung and located on the first floor. It has a totallength of approx. 180 m.

The railways are a driverless transport system consisting of individualcentrally controlled carriages which offer space for three to sixpersons. In order to be able to produce the impression of travellingthrough the body as authentically as possible, only an indispensableminimum of details extraneous to the body are located in the field ofview of the observer. Therefore the travel way of each track is designedas a closed tunnel tube which can be entered only via the entrance andexit regions.

The railway is passed through a guide close to the ground, as the guidehas less obtrusive optical effects than a guide close to the ceiling onthe user. This guide can be track-mounted or trackless, wherein alocation-related speed profile which must be followed by the individualcabins of the railway on the trip is fixed.

The carriages will travel at intervals of approx. 12 m, so that thenumber of cabins on the digestive tract loop is 33 and the number ofcabins on the heart/circulation/lung loop is 15. With an average of fivepassengers per individual cabin and a mean speed of 0.5 m/s, in this wayapprox. 1,300 passengers an hour can be transported.

Inside the demonstration device are also located functional elementswhich are designed as exhibition regions and which are accessed via afootpath. The main access axis runs in the longitudinal direction in themiddle of the building. The construction of the building symmetricallyabout the axis on the one hand facilitates orientation for the visitor,but on the other hand also allows maximum flexibility in the use ofspace.

Particularly in the region of the fourth zone between waist and feet thevisitor nearly always has the opportunity to look up freely. The hall issupplied with natural light via light shafts and so an attractiveambiance is created. The rooms in which medicine and technology aredisplayed for the visitors on foot are designed according to therespective subject. The connecting paths between these rooms are keptneutral to avoid swamping the visitor with stimuli. This purpose is alsoserved by the above-mentioned rest zones. These alternate within thearchitecture with the actual exhibition areas in order to give theobserver the opportunity for a recovery break again and again. Cateringoperations are provided in two locations, a cafe in the head region fromwhich a view of the surrounding area at a height of just under 50 m isoffered, and a restaurant on the third floor of the fourth zone.

By the example of the heart in conjunction with FIG. 9, an architectonicorgan design by way of example will be described. The interior of theorgans simulates stage wings to give the visitor in the case of holloworgans the lively impression of passing through the respective organ.

In the case of the hollow organs such as for example the heart,decoration of the functional element serves the purpose of giving theobserver the feeling that he is inside this organ. Thus for example inFIG. 9 is shown a ventricle of a heart 901 through which a track-mountedrailway 902, 903 travels. The railway consists of individual cabins forthree to six passengers. The user of the railway here gets the realisticimpression of travelling through a ventricle.

With all the other exhibition regions serving as functional elements thewall structures match the subject offered, for example the walls in thesubject region of brain, nerves and reflexes show structures of nervecell tissue.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section through the upper torso of thedemonstration device 401. The upper torso is supported on thesubstructure 404. Also shown are the individual levels of thesubstructure in the chest region. Above the three-storey interior liningin the back region is arranged the vertebral column 802 for walking.

It can be seen directly that the outer skin 10 and the interior lining503 form separate buildings independent of each other.

FIG. 11 shows another vertical cross-section in the longitudinaldirection through the demonstration device. Clearly shown is theinterior division into storeys of the head region, the substructure andthe fourth zone between waist and feet. Also shown is the support of thehead and chest regions by the support elements which are constructed asarms.

FIG. 12 shows the outline of the ground floor in the region betweenwaist and feet of the demonstration device. Departing from the previousreference numbers, here the reference numbers denote:

1 the region of nutrition

2 buccal cavity and teeth

3 stomach

4 intestine

5 liver

6 kidney

7 rest zone and senses

8 rest zone and senses and a sales stall

9 a region for children

10 the region of taste at a minibar arranged there,

11 denotes the railway installed on the ground floor, and

12 denotes individual staircase.

The first track loop 11 on the ground floor begins by passing throughthe oesophagus-and then leads into the stomach 3. The outer casing ofthe stomach 3, which is filled with digestive juices and foodcomponents, is movable to simulate the peristaltic movement. Also on therealistically presented mucous membrane of the stomach are shownpictures of known illnesses such as gastric ulcers. The journeycontinues from the stomach through the duodenum into the small intestine4. The passenger here passes through the entrance to the pancreas aswell as the bile duct. In the small intestine 4 is provided a zoomeffect in which in the course of the journey the villi become more andmore detailed and larger, producing the impression that one is gettingcloser and closer to the intestinal wall. The intestine 4 itself has atotal track length of approx. 150 m.

Between intestine and bloodstream the railway 11 crosses over by thefact that the structures of the tubular wall of the intestine 4 changeto those of a blood vessel. On continuing the journey, liver and kidneytissues 5 and 6 are then shown. Here the section which can be seen isfurther enlarged so that finally the structure of the functional unit ofliver 5 or kidney 6 is visible. The first track loop ends after passingthrough the kidney 6.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-section of the first floor in the region betweenwaist and feet. The reference numbers denote, unlike the previous use,the following regions:

1 circulation

2 heart

3 trachea and voice

4 nose and smell

5 children

6 administrative region

7 seminar rooms

8 cafe/bistro

9 shop

10 bones

11 rest zone

12 lung

13 blood

14 lymph

15 immune system

16 a railway installed on the first floor and

17 a staircase

The railway 16 installed on the second floor goes, starting with a bloodvessel which is designed as a tube, into the right auricle of the heart2. Through the heart valve the railway 16 then passes into the rightventricle, as shown for example in FIG. 9. In the process the valvefunction and the contraction of the heart muscle are simulated. Throughanother heart valve ans a blood vessel the way leads into the lung 12.The cross-section of the vessel becomes narrower and narrower, producingthe impression that the vessel would keep on and on ramifying. In theregion of the lung 12 the alveoli are visible due to increasingtransparency of the vessel wails. Finally the railway 16 changes fromthe bloodstream to the airstream so that the journey leads through thebronchia and the trachea 3 to the exit station.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-section through the second floor in the regionbetween waist and feet. The reference numbers denote, unlike theprevious use, the following regions:

1 a restaurant and simulators

2 hormones

3 skin

4 tissues

4 bones, muscles and joints

6 sex organs and reproduction

7 genetics, cytology and heredity

9 a staircase

The exhibition rooms, which are shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 and which cannotbe passed through by a railway, are accessible to the visitors on foot.In them are presented anatomical models which offer the visitor thepossibility of seeing the structure and function of the body or organsin their entirety.

Due to the fact that it is possible to go through the demonstrationdevice both by vehicle and on foot, the visitor can first be introducedby a rail journey associated with interesting effects into thestructures and functions of the functional elements designed as organs,before he then, possibly according to his inclination and interests, indetail and/or selectively turns on foot to the functional elementsdesigned as exhibition rooms in order to get more precise informationthere. These functional elements designed as exhibition rooms maycontain for example torso models showing the position of the organs inthe body and the size proportions of the organs relative to each other,or functional models on which can be explained for example as in theeeye short sight, long sight and correction by glasses. Models whichexplain the diseases are set up there too. Thus for example the highblood pressure model explains the effect of high blood pressure on theorgans concerned.

In the exhibition rooms subjects from the field of technology,particularly the subjects of medical technology, can be broughtparticularly close to the visitor by exhibiting medical equipment anddevices. This is possible for example in the field of the appendix andbypass operations in a glass operating theatre, for diagnostictechnology by exhibiting for example ultrasonography, for prosthetics bydemonstrating computer-controlled prostheses on a dummy or with the aidof a skeleton with implants, for organ-related medical technology byexhibiting a heart-lung machine or a dialyser, or by medical use whichcan be performed by the visitor himself, such as for example spirometerand audiometer.

In the demonstration device -are also to be shown, as a special concept,analogies between the processes taking place in the human body andtechnical processes. This leads to a particularly vivid and cleardescription of biological processes.

Such comparisons can be for example the comparison of chewing with a jawcrusher, digestion with a fermentation system for biological refusefermentation, the preparation of chemical substances with thesynthesising work of the liver, the comparison of surface-activesubstances with bile, the formation of gallstones with the chemicalprocesses of crystallisation, nucleation and crystal growth, the lungwith activated-coke reactors based on carbon-containing adsorbents forflue gas cleaning, the blood circulation and heart with for examplediaphragm pumps, pipes, bypass pipes, expansion chambers, hose pumps,non-return valves ant/or throttle valves as well as the kidney withmembrane separation technology, the skin and bones with compositematerials made of glass fibre-reinforced plastics, the motor apparatuswith hydraulic systems, the brain structure and the nervous system withneuronal networks, the eye with the camera, the ear with thepiezoelectric effect and biological regulating processes with regulatingprocesses in process engineering systems, for example systems forkeeping temperatures constant by means of heat exchangers.

Further functional elements may contain cinemas in which demonstrationsof biological processes, for example the origin of human life, takeplace. By means of special projection techniques which are adapted tothe arched ceiling of a projection room, the impression of being in themidst of the action can be conveyed.

Furthermore simulators can be provided, for example simulation theatresor capsule simulators, in order for example to depict journeys throughthe digestive tract or the bloodstream, or a virus hunt or the path of anervous impulse through the nervous pathway in a realistic andimpressive manner.

In general, due to the possibility of going through the demonstrationdevice according to the invention by vehicle and on foot, it is possiblefor every visitor to be informed with the knowledge about the internalrelationships, layout and functions of a living organism in animpressive manner according to his inclinations and interests.

What is claimed is:
 1. A demonstration device modeled after a humanbeing, the demonstration device including an upper torso zone, a headzone, a zone between waist and feet, the head zone and zone betweenwaist and feet being connected by a pathway modeled after vertebrae, anda substructure, an outer skin which surrounds a cavity and whichsimulates the form of the human being, a first and a second set ofelements which simulate at least one of: organs, vascular systems, andjoints of the depicted human being, the first and second sets ofelements arranged in the cavity, the cavity configured to contain atleast one pathway for travel by vehicle through the first set of saidelements and at least one pathway for travel by foot through the secondset of said elements.
 2. The demonstration device according to claimfurther including support elements for supporting the outer skin.
 3. Thedemonstration device according to claim 2 wherein the outer skinincludes a transparent membrane.
 4. The demonstration device accordingto claim 3 wherein the elements visible through the transparent portionsof the outer skin are correctly placed anatomically.
 5. Thedemonstration device according to claim 1 wherein the outer skin isformed into a one-piece shell.
 6. The demonstration device according toclaim 1 wherein the outer skin is self-supporting.
 7. The demonstrationdevice according to claim 1 wherein the elements are not correctlyplaced anatomically.
 8. The demonstration device according to claim 1wherein the elements simulate normal human physiology.
 9. Thedemonstration device according to claim 1 wherein the pathway for travelby vehicle comprises a track system and the pathway for travel by footcomprises a trackless path system.
 10. The demonstration deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein the pathway for travel by vehicle comprisesa tube through which the vehicle travels and/or the pathway for travelby foot comprises a tube through which a person on foot travels.
 11. Thedemonstration device according to claim 10 wherein the tube for travelby vehicle and the tube for travel on foot are closed tubes.
 12. Thedemonstration device according to claim 9 wherein the pathway for travelby vehicle includes a railway system including at least one driverlesscabin vehicle and a central control location for individuallycontrolling the at least one driverless cabin vehicle.
 13. Thedemonstration device according to claim 1 wherein the human beingmodeled is at least one of unclothed and androgynous.
 14. Thedemonstration device according to claim 1 wherein the human beingmodeled is in the prone position.
 15. The demonstration device accordingto claim 14 wherein the demonstration device is a model of a human beinghaving its head raised.
 16. The demonstration device according to claim1 wherein the demonstration device is a model of a human being havingits arms arranged supporting its head.
 17. The demonstration deviceaccording to claim 1 supported on a surface, and further including asupport structure arranged between a portion of the demonstration devicewhich models a torso of the human being and the surface.
 18. Thedemonstration device according to claim 14 including a back region whichcorresponds in location to the location of the human being's back, theback region being prestressed.
 19. The demonstration device according toclaim 1 wherein the elements include at least one of: a heart, a liver,a stomach, a kidney, a gall bladder, the vascular system, a nervoussystem, a brain, an esophagus, a digestive tract, reproductive organs,small and large joints, and sense organs.
 20. The demonstration deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the upper torso comprises an open space.21. The demonstration device according to claim 1 wherein the uppertorso comprises a pathway for travel by foot to the head zone, thepathway including at least one of a staircase, a hallway, and anelevator shaft.
 22. The demonstration device according to claim 1wherein the substructure includes at least one of supply pipes andwiring.
 23. The demonstration device according to claim 1 wherein thezone between waist and feet includes a model of at least one of: theorgans found between the waist and feet of the human being modeled bythe demonstration device and a model of the vascular system foundbetween the waist and feet of the human being modeled by thedemonstration device.
 24. The demonstration device according to claim 1wherein the zone between the waist and feet includes elements foundbetween the waist and feet of the human being modeled by thedemonstration device.
 25. The demonstration device according to claim 1wherein the zone between waist and feet includes elements found betweenthe waist and feet of the human being modeled by the demonstrationdevice, including at least one of: a model of a digestive tract and amodel of reproductive organs, and wherein at least two railway systemsare provided in the elements found between the waist and feet of thehuman being modeled by the demonstration device.
 26. The demonstrationdevice according to claim 1 including elements which are modeled afterhollow organs.
 27. The demonstration device according to claim 1including elements which are modeled after organs which are not hollow.28. The demonstration device according to claim 1 wherein thephysiological processes conducted by the organ or system simulated bysaid elements are compared to analogous processes.
 29. The demonstrationaccording to claim 1 wherein the demonstration device includes alongitudinal axis, the outer skin being constructed symmetrically to thelongitudinal axis.